Unified Police will soon welcome K-9 Millie, the state’s first Psychiatric Support Dog

MILLCREEK — Unified Police will soon welcome a new breed of K‑9 to their team — the state’s first Psychiatric Support Dog (PSD).

Millie is a 5‑month‑old border collie–poodle mix currently finishing his training. He is expected to officially join the department’s precinct in Millcreek when he graduates in March. 

Gregg Golden, the department’s Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), will serve as Millie’s handler. He said Millie’s role is to help people in moments of crisis by lowering stress levels and offering comfort in whatever way feels natural to them.

“There’ve been studies out there that have shown animals particularly help their cortisol levels go down. That’s the goal with this is to help people and support people who are in crisis,” Golden said.

Golden explained that the person would be asked if they would be comfortable with Millie’s presence. Then Millie would be instructed to “lean in.” That could mean sitting close, lying his head on their lap, or simply being available for someone to pet.

Golden said Millie will be invited to a wide range of calls — from mental health emergencies to comforting a witness in a traumatic situation. 

“It could be people who are in a mental health crisis. It could be a crisis at school where kids are struggling. It could be a home. Anywhere where people are in crisis,” Golden explained.

Golden described the program as a “softer approach” to policing, one that adds a new dimension to how officers can support community members during difficult moments.

“It’s a change in culture…allowing police officers not to wear the hat of so many different things,” Golden said.

Though Millie’s duties differ from traditional police dogs, he will still be part of the K‑9 team, working alongside detection and apprehension dogs as a specialized resource focused on emotional support.

He will become the first ADA‑compliant psychiatric service dog working in law enforcement in Utah.